Still On Boko Haram Menace

The renewed Boko
Haram insurgency which has reportedly led to the death of no fewer than 350 persons in the last months should give any well thinking individual a cause to worry.
While taking over as the new Chief of Defence Staff in January, Air Mashal Alex Badeh, assured that the military would bring the terrorist activities of the Islamic sect in the country to an end before April this year.
He assured the new Chief of Army Staff, Maj-Gen Kenneth Minimah, who was expected to coordinate the fight against the insurgents that it was possible for his work to be concluded in a short time.
Ironically, one month before the set deadline, we are still faced with daring situations. Instead of the activities of Boko Haram  to abate, they seem to be on the increase. If anything, the sect is becoming more audacious, killing innocent people, dispatching many defenceless people, bombing markets, abducting and defiling young girls. Just last week, four communities in Adamawa State were nearly sacked by terrorists armed with rocket-propelled grenades, in an attack that seemed to confirm the claim of the Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, during a “Save our sould” visit to Aso Rock, recently that Boko Haram fighters were “better armed and better motivated” than the troops fighting them.
What about the atrocious massacre of pupils of Federal Government College, Buni Yadi, Yobe State on February 25, which left over 40 school children dead?
It is really difficult to understand why the lives of innocent children, should be wasted in such a horrendous manner. What have innocent students got to do with whatever the grievances of the sect are? Just a few years ago, we thought terrorism was something that happened in far away countries. Now we know differently; the threat hangs over us all the time.
As this blood bath continues unabated despite governemnt’s claim of making major strides in defeating Boko Haram, some pertinent questions need to be asked? What does Boko Haram really want? How committed is the military in the war against terrorism in Nigeria? Again, how effective have been the strategies adopted for the fight so far?
It is one thing to give a burial date for Boko Haram as the Chief of Defence Staff did, or to pronounce war on terrorism as the Federal Government had always done, but another to back such fury and promises with sufficient actions. Reacting to the latest Yobe students massacre, the Senate President, David Mark said, “It is also curious that under an emergency rule, when secutiry operatives should be on red alert, this mayhem still persists. Honestly, this calls for soul-searching and I believe the security authorities must rise to this challenge.” Echoing a similar sentiment, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, said, “While we must all join hands to bring this insanity to an end, we must, however, bear in mind that we are running out of excuses in our responsibility to our citizens?
Government and its security agencies are indeed expected to protect lives of Nigerians. This is the fundamental reason of the existence of government. Federal Government should therefore muster the needed political will and deal with the growing trend of terrorism. As long as the perpetrators of these criminal  acts and their sponsors go unpunished; as long as we cling unto the un-productive strategies, not even the relocation of the army headquarters to Maiduguri, as proposed by the House of Representatives will quell the brutality.
An end to the bloody mayhem is largely dependent on brilliant strategies and cooperation of every Nigerian, particularly governors, elders, politicians and youths of the mostly affected areas.
One strongly thinks, it is high time northern elders, politicians and eminent people from the North sincerely joined hands with government to salvage the situation.
As the former Minister of Education, Dr Oby Ezekwesili cried out, the crisis  in the North East is escalating because the “elders-in-the-land” failed in their responsibilities.
She said, “One of our greatest tragedies in Nigeria is the dearth of elders-in-the-land. We lost them to selfish accumulation of wealth and partisanship… That the elders-in-the-land, especially in the zones of terrorism seem unperturbed while this violence escalates is tragic! It is an abomination. That the Federal Government of Nigeria, States and the elders-in-the-land failed to collaborate to safeguard citizens is the severest erosion of nationalism in our land.”
President Jonathan has committed himself to bringing an end to the atrocities of Boko Haram  this year. He has also reminded the sect members that the option of dialogue is still open. That is why the cooperation of governors, traditional and religious leaders and notable people from the North is needed to convince these boys to toe the line of peace and dialogue.
The northerners need not be reminded that the continuous attack on schools will only take the region back educationally and the sooner it is stopped, the better for everyone.

 
Calista Ezeaku